Some of Sage Bell’s best memories from childhood are the times she spent participating in Girl Guides.
So when she had a daughter of her own, she knew she’d encourage her to join their local Girl Guides Unit in Mount Isa. And when she did in 2021, Bell was quick to step in as a volunteer parent helper.
“I just loved every minute of it, and I was really flattered that my daughter got to be part of that,” Bell told Women’s Agenda recently.
When a number of Girl Guides leaders in Mount Isa were leaving town towards the end of that year, Bell was worried that the Unit was going to shut down and that local girls, including her daughter, would miss out.
It led to Bell stepping up as a leader, and doing whatever it took to keep the Unit going. As she describes, “I really value what Girl Guides does”. Bell is a teacher by profession and already had years of experience working with young people, so was well placed to get involved.
“You get to watch [the girls] develop into these confident, brave young women,” Bell explains. “They get to get out there and make new friends and challenge themselves. A lot of our parents come back to us and just say, ‘we can’t believe how much she’s come out of her shell’.”
“They just develop into these amazing people, and you get to be there and witness it. It’s just the best thing.”
In Australia, the Girl Guides program is a non-formal education program based on shared leadership and decision-making. The program includes a range of age-appropriate activities across the areas of practical skills, physical development, and relationships with people.
Bell says her daughter, who was six-years-old when she first joined her Unit in 2021, has gained so much from the program, including some amazing friendships. Living in a regional part of Australia, being able to develop strong community ties through Girl Guides has been a massive positive outcome.
“We’ve had the therapy dog support team come out for RUOk? Day, we’ve had the SES come out and talk about hiking in the outdoors, we’ve participated in Clean Up Australia Day.We’re just constantly making those connections within our community and I think in a isolated part of Queensland, it’s really good to have that strong sense of community,” Bell says.
The power of volunteering
Girl Guides Australia operates as a federated national body with every State thriving on the power of adult volunteers like Bell. In 2023, more than 5000 women across the country provided their support.
Volunteering with Girl Guides as a leader or helper is a great way to meet like-minded people, and participate in a range of skills-based activities you wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to do.
Supporting the development, confidence and skills of the next generation of Australian young women is also massively rewarding.
“There’s so much that I get out of it personally,” Bell says. “I feel like it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, to put my hand up to volunteer.”
As a volunteer, Bell has developed a number of skills that she otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. For example, she’s learnt archery with other Guide leaders in Townsville, and gained her outdoors qualifications to be able to take the Girl Guides camping in Mount Isa.
She’s also just about to embark on a new qualification for kayaking, so she can join other leaders and take the girls out on the Mount Isa lake.
“The best thing about being a leader is just the people that you meet and the experiences that you [have],” Bell says.
“We’re in a small city in outback Queensland, so community is a big part of what we do. We’re constantly getting the girls out in the community. And every time we do, it’s just a hit. The girls love it. The parents love it.”
Girl Guides Queensland State Commissioner Kathryn Pearson would encourage other women who are looking to spend some time volunteering to consider doing it with Girl Guides. She says it can be a highly rewarding experience in a supportive, women-led environment.
“Volunteering as a leader gives you the opportunity to try something new in a safe way and really push yourself in a way where you’re supported and you’re encouraged,” Pearson tells Women’s Agenda.
“You might think you’re going to volunteer for one thing, but what you actually get is a whole different experience that you can use in multiple ways in your everyday life.”
Pearson says volunteers have played a key role in future-proofing the organisation and supporting its adoption of new technologies. Many volunteers have brought skills from their workplaces to Girl Guides and she is incredibly thankful for everything they do.
“Our members and volunteers play a pivotal role in nurturing a positive organisational culture. Their passion for our Mission, coupled with a genuine commitment to making a difference, has created a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere which reaches beyond our Guiding communities.”
A ‘guaranteed sisterhood’
Kathryn Pearson describes Girls Guides as a “guaranteed sisterhood”, a place where girls and women can come and feel supported. This culture is especially important as it can provide girls with a safe space away from school.
“Our guide units are in suburbs where girls can come from multiple different schools, so girls that might have issues in their friendship groups can come to guides and all of that goes away,” she explains.
And as an adult volunteer, there is always space to share the skills and knowledge you have to support the development of the next generation of young women.
“There’s always a place for you to share what you have, whether it’s a skill that is relevant to your workplace that you can bring to us or it’s just a skill that you have because it’s your passion. We need it and we would love you to share it with us,” she says.
“The organisation gives women opportunities to have involvement and use their voice in something that they feel passionate about – in a wide range of ways, from local activity, forums at a State level through to participating at national and international forums and events.”
Find out more about volunteering with Girl Guides Australia here.